William j



'(No Model.)

W. J. SHELTON.

ELECTED MEDICAL BELT.

No. 424,827. Patented Apr. 1, 1890.

UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM J SHELTON, OF COLUMBIA, TEXAS.

ELECTRO-MEDICAL BELT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 424,827, dated April 1,1890.

Application filed December 2, 1889. Serial No. 332,314. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that 1, WILLIAM J. SHELTON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Golumbia, Brazoria county, Texas, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Electro-Medical Appliances, of which thefollowing is a specification.

. My present invention relates to improvements in devices for applyingthe electric current to different parts of the human body, and has forits object to provide a device which will be convenient in form,economical in structure, and durable in use, the device being providedwith means for applying the current to any part of the body without thenecessity of carrying a bulky appliance at the part.

The invention consists in a belt or support constructed of multiple-plyelectro-conductive belting, which I make by inserting a conductor orconductors between the folds of a multiple ply band with suitablecontactpoints at the surface, a sling supported by and movable 011 thebelt for carrying the electric generator, also constructed of theelectro-conductive belting, and having detachable connectors between itscontact-points and those of the belt-contact plates, consisting of disksor plates provided with tongues or loops which engage over the edge ofthe belt and pass into loops or sockets formed on the surface-contacts,and a generator or electric supply consisting of a primary battery and aconverter or induction-coil, each inclosed in a hermetic cylindricalhousin g, preferably made of hard rubber, and having the axialbinding-screws for making the primarycurrent connections, said converterbeing also provided with peripheral bindingserews, and a projecting knobby which the sheath surrounding the core of the coil is moved toregulate the tension, a scale-indicator and friction device being alsoprovided.

The invention will be more fully understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure I is a perspective View of thesimple form of belt. Fig. II is a similar view showing the manner ofapplying the current through the eleetro-conductive belting to thedifferent parts of the body. Fig. III is a transverse section throughthey belt, the contactpoint, and the contact-plate. Fig. IV is an axialsection through the induction-coil in the plane of the projection forcontrolling the position of the sheath.

1 represents the belt, which is composed of the two pieces or plies 2,secured together by stitches or other suitable means along the edges anddivided by a central row of stitches 3, for the purpose of separatingthe two conductors, which are passed along inside the strap, and thisconstitutes myimproved electro-eonductive belting, which may, ifpreferred, be made by the yard orin other quantities of any width andpieces severed for use as may be required.

5 represents the contacts or contact points, which consist, preferably,of simple metallic loops or sockets 6 with a stem 7, which passesthrough the outer thickness of the belt and makes connection with one ofthe wires therein. These loops are adapted to receive either the tonguesS 011 the contact-plate 9 or the tongues 10 on the connectors 11, whichconnectors 11 may be used for connecting the sling with the belt or theprimary battery with the induction-coil, or the primary battery with thecontact-loops on the sling surrounding it, as well as for connecting theconverter with its surrounding loop in the sling. The sling 12 is alsoconstructed of the electroconductive belting, and may be similar asregards the interior conductors and the surface contact-loops to thebelt. The connectors 11 may consist of flexible conductors having on oneor both ends a hook or tongue 10 for insertion into the loops or socketsof the surface contact-points in any part of the sling or belt. Ifdesired, this form of connector may also be used between the battery andprimary coil of the converter, though this is not material, for it isobvious any connection suitable for the purpose may be made forcompleting the circuit between the several points.

A battery used in my present invention may be of any convenientkindsuch, for example, as the one described in my patent, No. 405,436.

14 represents the primary battery, 15 the connecting-posts at the endsthereof, and 17 the converter. This converter I make of an improved formand inclose it in a hermetic housing for the purpose of excludingtherefrom the moisture from the body, which would injure the workingparts. This converter consists of the primary and secondary coils, themovable sheath 1S, surrounding the core, the axial binding-screws 19,which connect with the prim ary coil, the proj eetion 20,which isconnected with the sheath of the core for moving it for the purpose ofregulating the current, said projection having 011 the outside aspring-frietion device 21, an indicator 22, which designates upon ascale 23 the position of the sheath with relation toithe induction-coil.The proj ection works through a slot in the housing. One end of thesecondary wire of the induction-coil is connected to a screw 2+t,whilethe other is connected to a contact plate or ring 25, which is adaptedto make connection with a screw 26 in the movable end of the housing,which is adapted to be screwed off to give access to the working partsof the induction-coil. The connection between the binding-screw and theend of the cap and the make and break device of the induction-coil isinsured by means of a projection 27, which may be an extension from thesupport which carries the contact-point in the make and break device,and which enters a spiral-spring socket in the end of the bindin g-scrcwin the cap.

For communicating the current to the different parts of the body,additional straps 30, precisely similar in construction, thoughpreferably smaller in size than the belt, may be used, and theconnection between these or the contact-points on these straps may bemade by the same connectors as employed for connecting contact-points onthe sling with those on the belt.

While I have thus specifically described the details of construction inmy improved appliance,I do not limit myself to such particularconstruction, for the same is susceptible of various modifications whichcome within the principles of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. As an article of manufacture, electroconductive belting consisting ofthe multipleply band having the conductor or conductors inclosed withinit, as set forth.

2. As an article of manufacture, electroconductive belting consisting ofthe multipleply band having the conductor or conductors inclosed withinit, and suitable contacts on the surface connected with the conductors,.

points comprising loops or sockets for supporting contact-plates whichengage and retain them in place, substantially as set forth.

5. In an electro-medical appliance, a belt or support having suitableconductors running along it in different longitudinal lines, andsimilarly-located lines of contact-points connected to their respectiveconductors, substantially as set forth.

6. In an electro-medical appliance, the combination, with theelectro-conductive belt or support having suitable conductors andcontact-points, of contact-plates having the engaging tongues or loopsand adapted to contact with the contact-points, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

7. In an electro-medical appliance, the combination of theelectro-conductive belt or support, the electro-conductive sling forcarrying the supply, said sling and support having suitablecontact-points and connectors for connecting contact-points on the slingwith those of the support, substantially as set forth.

8. In an electro-medical appliance, the combination of theelectro-conductive belt or support, the electro-conduetive sling carriedby and movable upon said support, said support and sling having suitablecontact-points, and detachable connectors for completing the circuitbetween the contact-points on the sling and those on the support, allsubstantially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. In an electro-medical appliance, the combination, with theelectro-conductive support having the contact loops or sockets connectedto their respective conductors, of the sling carryin g the generator andthe plates for making connection with the body, said sling and platesbeing movable on the support and provided with tongues or projectionsadapted to pass into the loops or sockets on the support for the purposeof making electrical contact therewith, all substantially as set forth.

10. An electric converter or induction-coil inclosed in a hermetichousing, and having the four contact-screws connected with therespective ends of the primary and secondary coils, and the projectionconnected with the sheath of the induction-coil for moving the same toregulate the tension, substantially as set forth.

11. An induction-coil inclosed in a hermetic housing and having theaxial contact-points for receiving the primary current and theperipheral contact-points for imparting the secondary current, saidhousing being provided with contact-screws corresponding in position andadapted to contact with their respective contactpoints of theinductioncoil, substantially as explained.

12. A contact-plate for electro-medical appliances, consisting of thebody and the engaging tongue or loop formed thereon, substantially asset forth.

13. A contact-plate for electro-medical appliances, consisting of theplate or disk hava suitable casing and having the contactpointsconnected with the respective ends of the primary and secondary coils, aknob projecting-from the sheath of the core of the induction-coilthrough the housing for moving the sheath to regulate the tension of thesecondary current, and a scale, an indicator, and

a friction device for indicating the position 20 of and retaining inplace the core.

WILLIAM J. SHELTON. \Vitnesses:

F. A. HOPKINS, HERVEY S. KNIGHT.

